Supporting roller assembly for a sliding panel

ABSTRACT

A supporting roller assembly for a sliding closure, such as a sliding screen door, movable along a track and having an edge channel opening toward said track. The roller assembly has a bracket positioned in the edge channel of the panel, an arm pivoted at one end on the bracket and mounting a track engaging roller at its other end, and a spring for urging the roller toward the track. The invention provides a novel adjustable limit stop for limiting movement of the roller arm away from the track. The described stop is a plunger slidable in the bracket and urged by a spring into contact with the roller arm and a lock screw accessible from the outside of the panel for adjustably securing the plunger in fixed position. The lock screw also serves to secure the roller assembly on the channel.

United States Patent Helmick Apr. 29, 1975 SUPPORTING ROLLER ASSEMBLYFOR A SLIDING PANEL [76] Inventor: B. J. l-lclmick, 303 Deborah CL.

Upland, Calif. 91786 [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 324,235

[52] US. Cl. 49/420; 49/425; 16/99 [5 l] Int. Cl. E05d 13/02 [58] Fieldof Search 49/420, 425; 16/91, 97, 16/99, 105

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,845 3/1923 Johnson ctal 49/420 X 2,697,848 l2/l954 Tompkins l6/l05 3,283,444 l H1966 Andres49/420 3,722,028 3/1973 Schocnbrod 42/420 X Primary E.\'aminer-KennethDowney Attorney, Agent, or FirmBoniard I. Brown ABSTRACT A supportingroller assembly for a sliding closure, such as a sliding screen door,movable along a track and having an edge channel opening toward saidtrack. The roller assembly has a bracket positioned in the edge channelof the panel, an arm pivoted at one end on the bracket and mounting atrack engaging roller at its other end, and a spring for urging theroller toward the track. The invention provides a novel adjustable limitstop for limiting movement of the roller arm away from the track. Thedescribed stop is a plunger slidable in the bracket and urged by aspring into contact with the roller arm and a lock screw ac cessiblefrom the outside of the panel for adjustably securing the plunger infixed position. The lock screw also serves to secure the roller assemblyon the channel.

18 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SUPPORTING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR A SLIDINGPANEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates generally to closures of the class which comprise asliding closure panel, such as a door or window, movable along asupporting track. The invention relates more particularly to a noveladjustable spring-loaded supporting roller assembly for such panels.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Closures of the class to which thisinvention pertains are well known in the art and are widely used in avariety of building structures. Generally speaking, such a closurecomprises a stationary metal rectangular frame to be fixed within a dooror window opening in a wall, and at least a pair of relatively movableclosure panels mounted within the frame. One of these panels is a fixedpanel which is securely fastened to the frame and occupies a portiononly of the frame so as to define with the frame as access openingthrough the frame. The other panel is a movable panel which is supportedon the frame for movement between an open position, wherein the movablepanel is located at one side of the fixed panel to uncover the accessopening, and a closed position, wherein the movable panel is extendedacross and closes the access opening. To this end, the movable panel isprovided with a number, typically 2, of supporting roller assembliesmounted with a channel along the lower edge of the panel. These rollerassemblies include circumferentially grooved supporting rollers whichride on a supporting track extending along the lower horizontal memberof the closure frame. The upper edge of the movable panel is guided inthe frame in various ways, as by providing the upper panel edge with agroove or channel for slidably receiving a rib along the upperhorizontal member of the frame.

The movable panel is commonly installed in the closure frame in such away that the panel is capable of limited vertical floating movementrelative to the frame. This floating movement assures maximum freedom ofpanel movement between its open and closed positions and permits thepanel to be conveniently removed from and replaced in the frames byfirst elevating the panel to disengage its supporting rollers from theframe track. However, this capability of vertical floating movement ofthe panel introduces a problem in that it tends to permit accidentaldisengagement of the panel rollers from the frame track. For example,when opening or closing the movable panel, the latter may beinadvertently raised in a manner which tends to disengage the rollersfrom the track. In order to prevent such inadvertent disengagement ofthe rollers, the latter commonly spring loaded into engagement with thetrack. As a consequence, the rollers remain in contact with the track atall times, even though the movable panel is inadvertently raisedslightly. The roller biasing springs are relatively weak and servemerely to urge the rollers toward the track and not transmit verticalloads between the rollers and the panel. These vertical loads aretransmitted by roller positioning members or stops which limitdeflection of the rollers toward the panels against spring action.Generally, these roller positioning stops are adjustable to permitadjustment of the limiting positions of the supporting rollers relativeto the panel.

A wide variety of spring-loaded supporting roller assemblies for thepurpose described have been devised. Representative of such rollerassemblies are those disclosed in the following prior art U.S. Pat.Nos.: 3,044,391; 3,090,084; 3,120,033; 3,175,255; 3,283,444 and3,284,953.

These existing roller assemblies, however, are characterized by certaindeficiencies, notably relatively great complexity, high cost ofmanufacture, difficulty of adjustment, and poor load carryingcapability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved roller assembly of this inventionhas a mounting bracket to be positioned in the edge channel of thesliding panel. Pivoted at one end on this bracket is an arm which mountsa track engaging roller at its other end. Attached to this arm is aspring which engages the panel in such a way as to urge the rollertoward the track.

The primary novelty of the invention resides in an adjustable stop whichengages the roller arm between its ends for limiting movement of theroller away from the track. The described stop is a plunger which slidesin the bracket toward and away from the roller arm and is releasablysecured in fixed position by a stop screw to limit movement of theroller away from the track. A spring urges the plunger toward the arm.

The lock screw is accessible at the outside of the sliding panel throughan opening in one side wall of the panel channel to permit the screw tobe released for setting the stop during installation of the rollerassembly and then secured to hold the stop in fixed position. Accordingto a feature of the invention, the lock screw also serves to secure theroller assembly in the panel channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of asliding screen door equipped with roller assemblies according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section through the lower channel edge of the doorshowing one roller assembly in position in the channel;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified rollerassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a slidingdoor assembly 10 including a frame 12 defining a door opening and glassdoors 14 for closing the opening. One glass door 16 occupies about onehalf the opening and is fixed. The other glass door (not shown) isslidable between open and closed positions. The door assembly 10 alsoincludes a sliding screen panel or door 18 for extension across the openhalf of the door opening when the sliding glass door is open.

Sliding screen panel or door 18 has a rectangular frame 20 and a screenextending across the frame opening. The edges of the screen are securedin the usual way to the door frame 20. Screen door 18 is movable along alower track 22. Along the lower edge of the screen door frame 20 is achannel 24 which opens downwardly toward the track 22. Within thischannel are two roller assemblies 26 according to the invention.

Turning to FIG. 2, each roller assembly 26 has a generally L-shapedmounting bracket 28 positioned within the lower door frame channel 24with side faces of the bracket facing the side walls 30 of the channels.As shown in FIG. 3, the bracket has a relatively close fit in thechannel. Bracket 28 has an arm 32 which seats againstthe bottom wall 34of the channel and an arm 36 which extends from one end of the arm 32toward the lower open side of the channel. Arm 36 is slightly narrowerthan arm 32, for reasons to appear presently.

Pivoted at one end on the lower end of the bracket arm 36 is an arm 38.A track engaging roller 40 is mounted on the other end of arm 38 to turnon an axis parallel to the pivot 42 of the arm. Roller 40 iscircumferentially grooved in the usual way to ride on the track 22. Theparticular roller arm 38 shown is formed from sheet metal and has anupper channel 44 receiving the lower end of the bracket arm 36. As notedand shown, bracket arm 36 is reduced in thickness, as shown, toaccommodate the side flanges 46 of the roller arm 38 between the bracketarm and channel side walls 30. The roller arm pivot 42 extends throughthese arm flanges, as shown.

Attached at one end to the bottom wall 48 of the roller arm 38 is anarcuate leaf spring 50. The outer end of this spring seats against adoor frame wall 52 which extends across the frame channel 24 at oppositesides of the roller assembly. Spring 50 urges roller arm 38 clockwise(as viewed in FIG. 2) about its pivot 42 to bias the roller 40 towardthe track 22.

A primary feature of the invention resides in an adjustable limit stop54 which engages the roller arm 38 between its ends to limit movement ofthe roller 40 away from track 22. The limit stop shown is a plunger withan upper stem 58 and a lower head 60. Plunger stem 58 slides in thebracket arm 32 and extends through a clearance opening 62 provided inthe bottom wall 34 of the door frame channel 24. The plunger head 60seats against the roller arm 38. A coil spring 64 about the plunger 54urges the latter against the roller arm.

Plunger 54 is secured in fixed position by a lock screw 66 threaded inthe bracket 28 and engageable with the plunger stem 58. According to afeature of the invention, the lock screw extends through a hole 68 inone side wall 30 of the door frame channel 24 and has an enlarged head70 outwardly of the side wall, such that the lock screw also serves tosecure the roller assembly 26 in the channel 24.

It is now evident that the roller 40 is urged toward the track 22 by theroller spring 50 and is limited in movement away from the track by limitstop plunger 54. This plunger is adjustable to adjust the limit positionof the roller. The upper end of the plunger stem 58 is accessible abovethe lower member of the door frame for movement or holding of theplunger by hand, when desired.

The modified roller assembly 26a of FIG. 4 is similar to that justdescribed except its mounting bracket 28a is essentially a .rectangularblock seating at its upper end against the bottom wall 34 of the screwdoor frame channel 24. Also, the roller arm 380 has a laterallyprojecting shoulder member 39a between its ends against which seats thestop plunger 54a. The plunger stern 58a extends slidably through theupper end of bracket 28a transverse to the longitudinal axis of thebracket. The plunger lock screw 66a is threaded in the upper end of thebracket and serves to secure the plunger in fixed position and also theroller assembly to the door frame 20, as before.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent: 1. A supportingroller assembly for a sliding panel movable along a track and having anedge channel opening toward said track comprising:

a mounting bracket having side faces and adapted to be removablypositioned in said channel with the side faces of the bracket facing thechannel side walls,

an arm,

means pivotally mounting said arm on said bracket on a pivot axissubstantially normal to said side faces of the bracket,

a track engaging roller mounted on said arm with the roller axisgenerally parallel to and displaced from said pivot axis,

a spring for urging said arm in one direction about said pivot axis tobias said roller toward said track, and

an adjustable stop on said bracket engageable with said arm foradjustably limiting movement of said arm in the opposite direction aboutsaid pivot axis, said stop comprising a plunger slidable in said brackettoward and away from said arm with the plunger axis generally parallelto said bracket faces, a spring for urging said plunger toward said arm,and a lock screw threaded in said bracket on an axis substantiallynormal to said bracket faces and engageable with said plunger forreleasibly securing said plunger in a fixed position relative to saidbracket, said lock screw projecting beyond one side of said bracket forextension through a hole in one of said panel channel side walls,whereby said lock screw is accessible externally of said panel forreleasing and locking said plunger.

2. A roller assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said lock screw has an enlarged head beyond one side face of saidbracket and is insertable into said bracket through a hole in one sidewall of the panel channel to serve the dual function of securing saidbracket in said channel and securing said plunger in fixed positionrelative to said bracket.

3. A roller assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

said plunger spring is a coil spring about said plunger.

4. A roller assembly according to claim I wherein:

said bracket has a generally L-shape and includes a first arm forseating against the bottom wall of said channel and a second armextending beyond one side of saif first arm,

said roller arm is pivoted on said second bracket arm,

and

said plunger is slidable in said first bracket arm toward and away fromsaid roller arm.

5. A roller assembly according to claim 4 wherein:

said lock screw has an enlarged head beyond one side face, and

said lock screw is insertable into said bracket through a hole in oneside wall of said panel channel to perform the dual function of securingsaid bracket in said panel channel and securing said plunger in fixedposition relative to said bracket.

6. A roller assembly according to claim 5 wherein:

said first mentioned spring comprises a leaf spring fixed at one end tosaid one end of said roller arm and extending from the arm forengagement with said panel.

7. A roller assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said bracket comprises an elongate rectangular block adapted to seat atone end against the bottom wall of said panel channel and pivotallyconnected at its other end to said roller arm,

said roller arm includes a transverse shoulder member projecting beyondone side of the roller arm, and

said plunger is slidable in said bracket toward and away from saidroller arm shoulder member.

8. A roller assembly according to claim 7 wherein:

said lock screw has an enlarged head beyond one side face, and

said lock screw is insertable into said bracket through a hole in oneside wall of said panel channel to perform the dual function of securingsaid bracket in said panel channel and securing said plunger in fixedposition relative to said bracket.

9. A roller assembly according to claim 8 wherein:

said roller arm has a longitudinal channel receiving said bracket andone end of said shoulder member.

10. In combination with a sliding panel movable along a track and havingan edge channel opening toward said track, a supporting roller assemblycomprising:

a mounting bracket removably positioned in said channel and having sidefaces facing the channel side walls,

an arm,

means pivotally mounting said arm on said bracket on a pivot axissubstantially normal to said channel side walls and bracket side faces,

a roller on said arm engaging said track and having its turning axissubstantially parallel to and displaced from said pivot axis,

a spring for urging said arm in one direction about said pivot axis tobias said roller toward said track, and

an adjustable stop on said bracket engaging said arm for adjustablylimiting movement of said arm in the opposite direction about said pivotaxis, said stop comprising a plunger slidable in said bracket toward andaway from said arm with the plunger axis generally parallel to saidbracket said faces, a spring for urging said plunger toward said arm,and a lock screw threaded in said bracket on an axis substantiallynormal to said bracket side faces and engageable with said plunger forreleasibly securing said plunger in a fixed position relative to saidbracket, said lock screw projecting beyond one side of said bracket andthrough a hole in one of said panel channel side walls, whereby saidlock screw is accessible externally of said handle for releasing andlocking said plunger.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:

said lock screw has an enlarged head outwardly of said one channel sidewall and performs and dual purpose of securing said bracket in saidchannel and securing said plunger in fixed position.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein:

said plunger spring is a coil spring about said plunger.

13. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:

said bracket has a generally L-shape and includes a first arm seatingagainst the bottom wall of said channel and a second arm extending fromsaid first arm toward said track, and

said plunger is slidable in said first bracket arm toward and away fromsaid roller arm.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein:

said lock screw has an enlarged head outwardly of said one channel sidewall and serves to both secure said bracket in said channel and securesaid plunger in fixed position.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein:

said roller arm has a longitudinal channel opening toward said firstbracket arm and receiving the end of said second bracket arm, and

said first mentioned spring comprises a leaf spring fixed at one end tosaid one end of said roller arm and extending from the arm forengagement with said panel.

16. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:

said bracket comprises an elongate rectangular block seating at one endagainst the bottom wall of said panel channel and pivotally connected atits other end to said roller arm,

said roller arm includes a transverse shoulder member projecting beyondone side of the roller arm, and

said plunger is slidable in said bracket toward and away from saidroller arm thrust member.

17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein:

said lock screw has an enlarged head outwardly of said one channel sidewall and serves to both secure said bracket in said channel and securesaid plunger in fixed position.

18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein:

said roller arm has a longitudinal channel receiving said outer bracketend and one end of said shoulder

1. A supporting roller assembly for a sliding panel movable along atrack and having an edge channel opening toward said track comprising: amounting bracket having side faces and adapted to be removablypositioned in said channel with the side faces of the bracket facing thechannel side walls, an arm, means pivotally mounting said arm on saidbracket on a pivot axis substantially normal to said side faces of thebracket, a track engaging roller mounted on said arm with the rolleraxis generally parallel to and displaced from said pivot axis, a springfor urging said arm in one direction about said pivot axis to bias saidroller toward said track, and an adjustable stop on said bracketengageable with said arm for adjustably limiting movement of said arm inthe opposite direction about said pivot axis, said stop comprising aplunger slidable in said bracket toward and away from said arm with theplunger axis generally parallel to said bracket faces, a spring forurging said plunger toward said arm, and a lock screw threaded in saidbracket on an axis substantially normal to said bracket faces andengageable with said plunger for releasibly securing said plunger in afixed position relative to said bracket, said lock screw projectingbeyond one side of said bracket for extension through a hole in one ofsaid panel channel side walls, whereby said lock screw is accessibleexternally of said panel for releasing and locking said plunger.
 2. Aroller assembly according to claim 1 wherein: said lock screw has anenlarged head beyond one side face of said bracket and is insertableinto said bracket through a hole in one side wall of the panel channelto serve the dual function of securing said bracket in said channel andsecuring said plunger in fixed position relative to said bracket.
 3. Aroller assembly according to claim 2 wherein: said plunger spring is acoil spring about said plunger.
 4. A roller assembly according to claim1 wherein: said bracket has a generally L-shape and includes a first armfor seating against the bottom wall of said channel and a second armextending beyond one side of saif first arm, said roller arm is pivotedon said second bracket arm, and said plunger is slidable in said firstbracket arm toward and away from said roller arm.
 5. A roller assemblyaccording to claim 4 wherein: said lock screw has an enlarged headbeyond one side face, and said lock screw is insertable into saidbracket through a hole in one side wall of said panel channel to performthe dual function of securing said bracket in said panel channel andsecuring said plunger in fixed position relative to said bracket.
 6. Aroller assembly according to claim 5 wherein: said first mentionedspring comprises a leaf spring fixed at one end to said one end of saidroller arm and extending from the arm for engagement with said panel. 7.A roller assembly according to claim 1 wherein: said bracket comprisesan elongate rectangular block adapted to seat at one end against thebottom wall of said panel channel and pivotally connected at its otherend to said roller arm, said roller arm includes a transverse shouldermember projecting beyond one side of the roller arm, and said plunger isslidable in said bracket toward and away from said roller arm shouldermember.
 8. A roller assembly according to claim 7 wherein: said lockscrew has an enlarged head beyond one side face, and said lock screw isinsertable into said bracket through a hole in one side wall of saidpanel channel to perform the dual function of securing said bracket insaid panel channel and securing said plunger in fixed position relativeto said bracket.
 9. A roller assembly according to claim 8 wherein: saidroller arm has a longitudinal channel receiving said bracket and one endof said shoulder member.
 10. In combination with a sliding panel movablealong a track and having an edge channel opening toward said track, asupporting roller assembly comprising: a mounting bracket removablypositioned in said channel and having side faces facing the channel sidewalls, an arm, means pivotally mounting said arm on said bracket on apivot axis substantially normal to said channel side walls and bracketside faces, a roller on said arm engaging said track and having itsturning axis substantially parallel to and displaced from said pivotaxis, a spring for urging said arm in one direction about said pivotaxis to bIas said roller toward said track, and an adjustable stop onsaid bracket engaging said arm for adjustably limiting movement of saidarm in the opposite direction about said pivot axis, said stopcomprising a plunger slidable in said bracket toward and away from saidarm with the plunger axis generally parallel to said bracket said faces,a spring for urging said plunger toward said arm, and a lock screwthreaded in said bracket on an axis substantially normal to said bracketside faces and engageable with said plunger for releasibly securing saidplunger in a fixed position relative to said bracket, said lock screwprojecting beyond one side of said bracket and through a hole in one ofsaid panel channel side walls, whereby said lock screw is accessibleexternally of said handle for releasing and locking said plunger. 11.The combination according to claim 10 wherein: said lock screw has anenlarged head outwardly of said one channel side wall and performs anddual purpose of securing said bracket in said channel and securing saidplunger in fixed position.
 12. The combination according to claim 11wherein: said plunger spring is a coil spring about said plunger. 13.The combination according to claim 10 wherein: said bracket has agenerally L-shape and includes a first arm seating against the bottomwall of said channel and a second arm extending from said first armtoward said track, and said plunger is slidable in said first bracketarm toward and away from said roller arm.
 14. The combination accordingto claim 13 wherein: said lock screw has an enlarged head outwardly ofsaid one channel side wall and serves to both secure said bracket insaid channel and secure said plunger in fixed position.
 15. Thecombination according to claim 14 wherein: said roller arm has alongitudinal channel opening toward said first bracket arm and receivingthe end of said second bracket arm, and said first mentioned springcomprises a leaf spring fixed at one end to said one end of said rollerarm and extending from the arm for engagement with said panel.
 16. Thecombination according to claim 10 wherein: said bracket comprises anelongate rectangular block seating at one end against the bottom wall ofsaid panel channel and pivotally connected at its other end to saidroller arm, said roller arm includes a transverse shoulder memberprojecting beyond one side of the roller arm, and said plunger isslidable in said bracket toward and away from said roller arm thrustmember.
 17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein: said lockscrew has an enlarged head outwardly of said one channel side wall andserves to both secure said bracket in said channel and secure saidplunger in fixed position.
 18. The combination according to claim 17wherein: said roller arm has a longitudinal channel receiving said outerbracket end and one end of said shoulder member.